A Walk in the Woods

KellyAshsCameraBagAndJacket

I like to wander around the forest and other local nature spots with my camera.

I never know what I will find, but whenever I am feeling as though I need some inspiration, I pack myself up, lather on some sunscreen (us people with translucent skin can never be too careful!), and go outside.

With a buddy of course to be safe!

Me.KellyAsh

A bonus of bringing a friend along, is they take pictures of different things. In this case it was me. I rarely have photos of myself since I am usually behind the camera, so sometimes it’s nice to get one of me!

Thanks Mommy!

Warmly,
Kelly
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Herbs 101: Oregano

Oregano.Herbs101.ByKellyAsh

This week in Herbs 101, I’m going to share a bit on Oregano, Origanum vulgare. I don’t think I’ve ever made a tomato sauce without it, and wouldn’t want to. The spicy, sharp taste of oregano makes me think of what I imagine Italy would smell like.

OreganoPlant.Herbs101.ByKellyAsh

Here in Maine where my garden straddles the line between Zone 5 and Zone 4, I don’t take chances, and I grow oregano both in the ground and in containers.

My Oregano has done really well in containers and I love it when it overflows and trails along the counter. Its nice because it is always within arms reach when I am in the kitchen.

OreganoSeedling.Herbs101.ByKellyAsh

But I do grow some oregano from seed, some of which gets planted in the potager, some goes in pots. Oregano is so easy to grow. The only soil requirement is that it is well-drained, and as it is of Mediterranium origin, it enjoys full sun and moderate water.

The only thing to keep an eye on is too much water. Oregano doesn’t like humidity. So if you grow it in containers like I do, it’s easy to move them to a different spot.

And I’ve never actually fertilized oregano. I do however give it a nice drink of compost tea if  it starts to look as if it’s not so happy.

VariagatedOregano.Herbs101.ByKellyAsh

I continually like to harvest oregano for my kitchen, and it is a good thing because it makes the plant bushier, and thus healthier. If you find you are not using as much of your oregano, give it a good 6 inch haircut twice a season to keep it looking and feeling healthy.

OreganoPlant2.Herbs101.ByKellyAsh

Some people will warn you not to use too much fresh oregano in food, as it is rather strong. And if you harvest the leaves right before it flowers, it will be especially strong. But as I have a dulled sense of taste, I use quite a lot!

Warmly,
Kelly
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Pressing Flowers

FlowerPress..ByKellyAsh

I’ve been pressing flowers ever since I was a little girl, and thank heaven I have gotten a bit better at it over the years. There is something so timeless about finding a perfect bloom, and preserving it flat, so it can be used to conjure memories of the past (like my Junior Prom corsage), adorn a card to your best friends or frame for the wall.

You can make pressing flowers as easy or complex as you like. I’ve pressed many flowers and buds between the pages of large books, and I also have a few flower presses that I use.

FlowerPress.ByKellyAsh

For our second Christmas together, The Man built me my own flower press based on what I told him my ideal press would be. It is still one of my favorite gifts after almost 15 years together!

FlowerPressPapers.ByKellyAsh

So I’ll pick plants in the late morning, After they’ve had time to evaporate off any moisture or mildew, and before the heat of the day when things begin to wilt.

If a plant has a thick, woody stem I will remove it, otherwise I will flatten the flower, sometimes even using a razor knife to slice the bud in half so the flower will press nicely.

FlowerPressing.ByKellyAsh

Then I place the flowers between coffee filters.

I’ve found coffee filters are great because they wick any moisture away, without damaging the plant or taking any color away.

(You can still use the coffee filters between the pages of an old book because they will protect the pages as well as the flowers.)

Now I just have to hope that the entire world moves to those Keurig coffee machines, otherwise there will be no place to buy them any more!

FlowerPressPapers2.ByKellyAsh

Once the flower is laid out between the coffee filters, I use multiple layers of corrugated cardboard between pressings. And place them between two thick pieces of wood, which over the following weeks I will add more and more pressure.

And a good thing to keep in mind is as you press flowers their colors will change.

· White flowers fade to yellow or caramel brown.

· Pink flowers turn brown.

· Red and Orange blooms become maroon.

· Purple becomes a lovely navy, and periwinkle turns blue.

I think I enjoy pressing flowers so much, because it is like freezing a moment in time.

Warmly,
Kelly
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Chicks to Chickens

CuteChick

I love chickens. And I have been begging my husband for years to agree to get some laying chicks for around our house …

Needless to say we are still in negotiations.

But I was so excited that my friend Amanda, bought some chicks a few weeks ago and was kind enough to let me come over and see the little critters!

chicksAll this did was confirm to me that I want some chickens.

They were incredible soft, cute and lovable.

How could you not love these little guys?

They lay yummy, colorful eggs, eat ticks, create free manure for your garden, plus they are adorable.

I really don’t see the downside.

ChickThese photos were taken only a few weeks ago and now they have grown so much! Soon these Easter-Eggers (yes that is their real name) will be laying some lovely blue, pink, beige, white and green eggs.

I  really wish I had some of my own, but until then I will have to live vicariously through the chicks and chickens of others!

Warmly,
Kelly
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Herbs 101 : Basil

Herb101.Basil.ByKellyAsh

There is nothing like going into the garden and picking some herbs to freshen your home, or your food! Every Tuesday I am going to share some of my favorite herbs – why I love them, how to grow them and any special tidbits I’ve picked up along the way.

And this week I am going to start off with BASIL!

Basil.ByKellyAsh

I like to start mine from seed, and I’ll sow about 10 plants every 2-3 weeks. This guarantees that me (and any friends and family who come begging) will have fresh basil all summer long!

GrowingBasil.ByKellyAsh

I use a basic seed starting mix, and this year instead of using trays or cells I used my new soil blocker and it’s working out am-a-zing! The soil blocks hold together well once the seedling is rooted, and it makes for easy transplanting into the garden or pots for the kitchen windowsill. I give my seeds full sun and they usually will germinate within 5 days. I’m a bit careful about watering, as basil seedlings are prone to dampening off.

BasilSeedling.ByKellyAsh

My biggest piece of advice for growing basil is Pinch-Pinch-Pinch it back!

By pinching back the plant delays flowering, and once flowering occurs its leaf production will slow. And since I grow basil for its flavorful leaves, I just keep pinching it back until it is a nice bushy plant.

BasilPlant.ByKellyAsh

I use my basil in everything from pasta and sauces to bruchetta, soups and salads. And if I have enough leftover (which unfortunately never happens) I’ll dry it for the winter.

Warmly,
Kelly
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There is no such thing as
Too Many Lilacs

LilacCloseUp.ByKellyAsh

There is nothing so sweet as the smell of lilacs after a spring rain. It’s scent makes me that is what heaven would smell like; fresh, floral and fruity, without being cloying, with a light sweetness that makes me want to stick my nose in and inhale till I can’t breath.

BasketOfLilacs.ByKellyAsh

Lilacs (Syringa vulagaris) are so easy to grow. There are early, mid and late blooming lilac varieties to extend their flowering season to SIX weeks if you plan it right. Skinner lilacs (S. x hyacinthiflora) are known for their early bloom time, while preston lilacs are among the last to open their buds (S. x  josiflexa, S. x prestioniae and S. x reticulata).

LilacInTheGrass.ByKellyAsh

Lilac need at least 6 hours of full sun. If you find your lilacs aren’t produce many flowers, 9 times out of 10 it is because your plant isn’t getting enough sun. Plant in neutral to alkaline, well-drained soil in the spring or fall (but fall is best). If you are looking for some instant color and scents, buy a container-grown lilac from your local nursery. After planting, fertilize the second year with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. This high phosphorous fertilizer is known as a “Bloom Booster” and it helps in root development while enhancing the plant’s flowering ability and bloom size.

LilacsInPitcher.ByKellyAsh

And for you garden gurus out there, Lilacs propagate best by suckers. Prune out any suckers that are pencil-thin from the mother plant, and plant them as root cuttings. It will take about 4-5 years for it to mature and bloom, but is worth the wait!

Warmly,
Kelly
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Perennial Profile: Lily-of-the-Valley

GrowingLilyOfTheValley.ByKellyAsh

Lily-of-the-Valley, or Convallaria majalis, is a favorite garden plant of mine. This low growing woodland plant could easily take over your garden bed, so it is important to know that you will need to add dividing and propagating lily-of-the-valley to your fall garden chores.

These delicate little things grow through rhizomes, so their creeping and spreading habit that makes them so lovely is also what makes them so meddlesome in the garden.

LilyOfTheValleyInWoodlands.ByKellyAsh

 

I have found that lily-of-the-valley likes fertile, rich, well-drained soil bloom best in moderate to light shade. And every fall I feed mine with some leaf mold.

Lily-of-the-Valley can be forced, but keep in mind they are not as easy as daffodils, crocuses or tulips. Gently lift up the rhizomes and plant them in pots. Usually these ethereal blooms can be forced in as little as 3-4 weeks if placed in a north or east-facing window! Once you enjoy your indoor blooms, you can replant them back in the garden the following spring!

LilyOfTheValleyFlowers.ByKellyAsh

And while you can grow lily-of-the-valley from seed, it is much easer to grow from rhizome, or root cuttings. They grow and root much faster giving you flowering plants the following year, while sowing seeds is a slow, arduous process.

LilyOfTheValley.ByKellyAsh

A Tip for Growing Lily-of-the-Valley: I like to soak the ‘pips’ or bulbous roots in lukewarm water for a few hours. This helps to gently ‘wake-up’ the bulbs and get them ready to root. I also trim the roots, as this activates the plant, then I plant them so they are barely touch the soil surface, an inch or so apart.

I haven’t personally haven’t had any disease problems, the only problems I’ve heard of is white or gray mold. So just keep an eye on your plants and make sure they are not waterlogged.

Warmly,
Kelly
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June Gardening Chores

SpringGardenChores.KellyAsh

I am sharing my June gardening To-Do List because I need a checklist – with this warm Spring weather, and Summer around the corner, I can easily get distracted from all those things I should be doing around the garden.

  • Water, water, water! Living in Maine we have been getting some unseasonably warm weather (yay!) but that also means that my plants are extra thirsty. So keep an eye on anything in the garden that may need something to drink. Tip – Remember the best time to water is in the morning!

 

SpringGardenChores.watering.KellyAsh

  • Weeding. Not my favorite task, but a necessary one. It is always easier to get rid of weeds when they are young rather than when they are bigger and toucher to remove!
  • Plant and stake vegetables like tomatoes, asparagus, beans, carrots, lettuce & salad greens. There is still time to start tomatoes for July and August harvests ifyou havent done so yet. I also sow a few herbs every two weeks so I have a constant supply of basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro and tarragon throughout the summer.
  • Deadheading. I am a huge deadheaded! By removing spent flowers, your plants will push out more buds and give you a longer bloom season. Anytime and anything I can do to extend flowering, I’ll do it!

 

SpringGardenChores.lilacs.KellyAsh

 

  • Prune Spring flowering shrubs after they bloom. Yes, this means once your lilacs, wisteria and vibernum have bloomed, cut till your hearts content! Right now The Man can’t go anywhere in our house without their sweet scent!

 

SpringGardenChores.Pruning.KellyAsh

  • Remove suckers and damaged limbs from trees and shrubs. Otherwise they will look unsightly in no time!
  • Compost and side dress any garden beds that need a little extra umph - bot you and your garden will be happy you did!
  • Evaluate the garden – which plants are thriving and which don’t look so good. Sometimes your plants need some nutrients or fertilizer and other times they need to be moved. I am a big fan of transplanting anything if it isn’t healthy and flourishing.
  • Be on the lookout for pests and disease – my garden is plagued by those nasty japanese beetles! Removing bugs or damaged plant material earlier is the best way to prevent any pest or disease problems later in the summer.

 

SpringGardenChores.JapaneseBeetles.KellyAsh

  • And if you like to share and exchange garden plants with your friends, you can begin taking softwood cuttings. Or if you’d just like to like to have more of a particular plant, now is the time to do it cheaply! Hydrangea, Butterfly Bush, Fuchsia, ornamental cherries, and other hard-to-root perennials have the highest chance of rooting potential, if taken in spring or early summer. Tip – Take cuttings from tender, new growth.

SpringGardenChores.hydrangeaSoftwoodCuttings.KellyAsh

In my mind, once June hits, the garden season is off and running. I love to see my hydrangeas start blooming, my herbs and vegetables producing, and annuals all over! So I’m going to hurry up and finish these tasks so I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labors!

Warmly,
Kelly
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